China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)

Overview

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is an integrated international energy company.

Based in China, the company has oil and gas assets and interests in more than 30 countries in Africa, Central Asia-Russia, the Americas, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific and other regions.

CNPC is China’s largest oil and gas producer and supplier, and one of the world’s major oilfield service providers. It is a globally reputed contractor in engineering construction, with businesses covering petroleum exploration and production, natural gas and pipelines, refining and marketing, oilfield services, engineering construction, petroleum equipment manufacturing and new energy development, as well as capital management and finance and insurance services.

CNPC continues to enhance its cooperation and communication with domestic and foreign counterparts, and has established long-term partnerships with domestic and foreign universities, colleges and research organizations.

Domestic Technology Communication and Cooperation

CNPC has also established long-term partnerships with renowned universities and colleges in China. These include joint establishment of laboratories and shared launches of the Importing Program of Scientific and Technological Talents, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program, the Innovation Fund Program of Petroleum Science and Technology for the Young and Middle-Aged and similar endeavors.

In 2006, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) became CNPC’s long-term partner in the fields of developing new exploration theories and methods, EOR technologies, refining and chemical catalysts, new polymers, natural gas conversion, new energy, and high-tech R&D and applications.

In 2013, CNPC set up a technical committee together with CAS and initiated six cooperative research projects, including the R&D of high precision digital geophones (MEMS).

In 2014, it set up a high-level alliance with CAS in line with China’s innovation-driven development strategy, and focused on six prioritized research projects including R&D and application of elastic wave seismic imaging technologies for synergistic innovation among industries, colleges, research institutes and enterprises.

In 2015, its work with CAS and China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation drove organic integration between the innovation and industrial chains.

International Technology Communication and Cooperation

CNPC actively promotes S&T communication and cooperation with research institutes and universities at home and abroad, and with national and international oil companies in the domains of oil and gas exploration and development, refining and chemicals, and oilfield services. It also participates in activities organized by NOC, IEF, IGU, AAPG, SEG, and SPE seeking more opportunities for scientific and technological cooperation.

CNPC worked with the China University of Petroleum and the British Geological Survey in the research of “Recognition Technologies of Fractured Reservoirs by Longitudinal Waves” and the development of fracture-predicting software, completed the research on “Natural Gas Strategy Drafting, Modeling, and Development Optimization” with HIS Energy Corporation, and tackled technical challenges such as the exploration of lithologic reservoirs and the development of low-permeability and heavy oil reservoirs with Schlumberger and Stanford University.

In 2013, CNPC became a Contracting Party in the Enhanced Oil Recovery IA (EOR IA) of the International Energy Agency. CNPC also worked with peer companies and research institutions at home and abroad on technological cooperation and joint research. Progress was made in joint technology R&D with Exxon Mobile and Shell in terms of exploration and development, refining and chemicals, and oilfield services. A CNPC-Shell joint shale oil research center was established for research on the theory, methodology, and frontier technologies for shale oil development.

In 2015, it held a high-level forum with GE on technological innovation and management, and signed an MOU on R&D cooperation in CCUS, low carbon and environmental protection technologies, and development of unconventional hydrocarbons.

In 2016, in collaboration with Shell and GE, CNPC made breakthroughs in the in-situ upgrading of shale oil and treatment of heavy oily sludge. Its Houston technological research center, with more international resources in place, played a bigger role as a platform for international cooperation and exchange.

Website: http://www.cnpc.com.cn/en/